The Department of Trade and Industry said it will not extend the zero duty on cement since its price has not gone down since its implementation.
According to Trade Secretary Peter Favila, locally made cement remains expensive as manufacturers were not “challenged” by the possible entry of imported ones.
“I don’t see [cement] prices going down,” Favila said.
Trade Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya told reporters last week that cement prices stand at about P205 per 50-kilogram bag.
The Board of Investments earlier said a study it conducted showed that cement should be priced at P185 a bag.
Favila said the Trade department is amenable if the House of Representatives would again conduct an inquiry on cement prices.
In November last year, President Gloria Arroyo signed Executive Order 766, which cuts import duties on cement, and Executive Order 765, which slashes import duties on wheat. These tariff adjustments are effective for six months. Favila earlier said these tariff cuts were “part of government’s intervention to ensure prices are at affordable levels.”
Earlier, the Trade department said may extend the imposition of zero tariff on wheat imports for another six months. It may also slash the duty on flour to bring it down to 3 percent to zero, in bid to further pull down bread prices. — Ben Arnold O. de Vera, Manila Times
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against
Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
